Aussie singer/guitarist Orianthi, the (other) star of the Michael Jackson concert doc This Is It, told Idolator back in December that she hopes fans will “see I’m serious about” playing guitar. Right, because showing off your chops while performing alongside Michael freaking Jackson might somehow not get the point across. If anyone’s still fuzzy on this issue, the straightforward video for “Highly Strung” leaves zero room for doubt. We already knew Orianthi owned some pipes, but the new vid focuses solely on her ax-wielding superpowers, which are on display in a face-melting face-off with legendary 80s rocker Steve Vai. Check it out after the jump.

Orianthi feat. Steve Vai—”Highly Strung”

She talked with Spinner about her collaboration with Steve Vai:

“I’ve known him since I was 15. My first support was opening for him at this club in Adelaide, Australia and I was so nervous because it was my first support, let alone opening for one of the best guitar players in the world. I just respect him immensely and look up to him and you never stop learning off guitar players like Steve Vai and Santana—they’re my two favorite guitar players.”

Why this woman didn’t nab a spot on the Lilith Fair lineup (or Coachella, for that matter) is what we want to know. Did Ke$ha’s rider demands for glitter and Jack Daniels blow the budget?